The Growth Pod

Episodes

• #75 Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae - Posti's IPO, why CEOs fail, strategy mistakes, AI’s real impact 27.05.2026 1h 15m

  Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae is one of the most respected business leaders in the Nordics, chairing companies like Finnair, Posti, and BoConcept. She returns for a third time to discuss good vs great leaders, “founder mode”, managing crises, making difficult decisions, the importance of focus and judgment, and the real impact of AI on business.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sannasuvantoharsaae/(0:00) Introduction(0:33) Posti’s turnaround and IPO(5:50) Why companies struggle to focus(10:35) How Sanna evaluates leadership teams(15:18) Why CEOs fail and how to make difficult leadership changes(24:10) Self-leadership and founder mode(38:15) Finnair, crisis management and setting the strategy (51:20) Nordic co-operation, opportunities and becoming “hedgehogs”(57:35) The real impact of AI, human judgment and the future of work
• #74 Axel Ahlström – robotics, industrial tech and the future of manufacturing in Europe 05.03.2026 59m

  Axel Ahlström sits at the intersection of manufacturing and technology. After working with major industrial companies in private equity, he co-founded Kvanted, a new 70M€ industrial deep tech VC fund.We talk about the future of manufacturing in Europe, what it’s like to start a new VC fund, robotics hype vs reality, deep tech investing, green and red flags in startups, and more.(0:00) Introduction(0:30) Axel’s background: engineering, consulting and private equity(3:25) The idea behind Kvanted(8:17) European innovation and why Zurich became a focus(12:45) Starting a new VC fund(22:15) Robotics hype vs reality(28:05) Industrial manufacturing and the role of startups(38:17) Why Europe needs manufacturing(42:00) What Axel looks for in startups: green flags and red flags(51:37) Contrarian beliefs, lessons learned, and career adviceLearn more:https://generogrowth.comhttps://www.kvanted.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/axel-ahlstr%C3%B6m-22b9372b
• #73 From zero to 13.5M€: bootstrapping e-commerce with Ebike Center founder Timo Uotila 05.02.2026 1h 3m

  How do you profitably grow from zero to 13,5M€ in revenue, with just 20K€ in funding? We sat down to discuss this with Timo Uotila, who co-founded Ebike Center with his brother in 2023. We talk about entrepreneurship, common mistakes, lessons learned, building a premium brand, and navigating crises along the way.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com https://ebikecenter.fi/https://www.linkedin.com/in/timo-uotila-215535200/(00:00) From idea to market leader: the Ebike Center story(06:28) Mastering cash flow and inventory with no external funding(09:47) Trust and collaboration: building a company with your brother(12:02) How Ebike Center reacted to a major policy change(17:45) Proactive marketing: turning crisis into market leadership(23:44) From sales to marketing: building strong agency relationships(30:52) Investing heavily in conversion and in-store experience(38:32) Hiring top talent and preparing for international expansion(45:48) Avoiding blame and building self-awareness as a founder(50:35) Why obsession with detail drives long-term success
• #72: How to build a winning e-com/consumer brand in 2026 with Aida Jammal 27.11.2025 1h 5m

  eEquity is one of the Nordics’ most active e-commerce investors. We sat down with partner Aida Jammal to discuss what it really takes to build a strong consumer brand in today’s market. We cover customer obsession, competing with low-price Chinese players, the financial metrics investors look for, common mistakes, how to think about discounting, and more.(0:00) Introduction(0:27) eEquity’s background and strategy(3:35) The current state of e-commerce(8:35) Unit economics, growth vs profitability(13:25) What a “dream P&L” looks like(23:13) Green and red flags, looking beyond metrics(34:03) What founders need to focus on(41:14) Discounting and customer obsession(49:00) Influencer brands, competing with Temu ja Shein(57:48) The future of e-commerce in the NordicsLearn more:https://generogrowth.com https://www.eequity.se/se.linkedin.com/in/aidajammal
• #71: Kim Väisänen on growth, sales and investing 06.11.2025 1h 8m

  Kim Väisänen co-founded and led Blancco, turning it into a global leader in data erasure software and 60M€ exit. Since then he’s made 140+ startup investments and helped countless companies grow as an advisor and board member. We talk about mistakes and lessons learned, what Finland’s Shark Tank is really like, why sales is critical for success, and much more.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimvaisanen/kim.vaisanen@live.com
• #70: From founder to investor with Tom Even Mortensen 23.10.2025 1h 4m

  Tom took his first startup public as CEO, later held exec and board roles in PE-backed companies, and now invests in early-stage companies through Sandwater, the VC firm he founded and raised a 125M€ first fund for.We talk about what it takes to build a successful startup, the future of AI and robotics, mental health, and why climate investing isn't dead.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com https://www.sandwater.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-even-mortensen-27b7453(0:00) Introduction(1:15) From startup to IPO(7:10) Putting yourself in position to succeed(10:32) From operator to investor(15:44) Energy demand and the future of climate investing(23:55) How robotics will transform society(32:47) Finding new investments(38:44) Innovation and tech in Europe(47:38) Investment criteria, mental health, advice for founders
• #69: Christoffer Järkeborn - building a 10 billion SEK business in technical installation 09.10.2025 1h 11m

  In just four years, Nimlas Group scaled from 1.5 to 10 billion SEK while maintaining strong profitability. CEO Christoffer Järkeborn joins us to discuss leadership, why profitability matters, managing a group of 130+ companies, why managers need to get out of the office, and more.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com/ https://nimlasgroup.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoffer-j%C3%A4rkeborn-1670b72/(0:00) Introduction(0:30) From politics to PE-backed hypergrowth(6:40) Why efficiency and profitability matter(15:10) Nimlas’ operating model explained(21:25) “Recession is for others”(28:15) Building a culture of real collaboration and healthy competition(36:10) 'Get out of the office' and other leadership lessons(40:10) Bureaucracy and the danger of big head offices(48:00) AI and the future of practical work(57:25) How Nimlas buys and starts companies(1:02:00) Clarity, speed, and energy
• #68: Erik Modig - why ROI misleads, funnels fail, and what world-class CMOs do differently 25.09.2025 1h 4m

  Erik Modig is a researcher, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. He returns to the podcast to discuss the death of the marketing funnel, the issues with ROI, what it really takes to build thought leadership, and the thing that separates world-class CMOs from the rest.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.marketinglevels.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emodig/(0:00) Intro(1:08) Is the marketing funnel dead?(12:20) The ROI dilemma in digital marketing(20:02) Useful metrics(30:30) Moving beyond numbers and world-class CMOs(41:30) Thought leadership: why it matters and why it’s hard(52:25) Choosing the right channels, why slogans fail, and career advice
• #67: Klarna’s growth story with Head of Nordics Björn Bryngelson 12.09.2025 50m

  Klarna is one of the world’s most successful startups. We sat down with Head of Nordics Björn Bryngelson to discuss the company’s growth journey, making big bets, attracting top talent, and common misconceptions about Klarna.Learn more:https://www.klarna.com/https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj%C3%B6rn-bryngelson-b0b80310/(0:00) Introduction(0:30) Why Björn joined Klarna(5:08) Consumer behavior and user experience(7:57) Key decisions for driving growth(14:03) Entering and succeeding in the US(19:02) Rebranding Klarna and building a bold global brand(23:38) Competing by providing value(27:39) Making big bets and moving fast(30:24) Nordic advantages in building startups(33:03) How Klarna uses AI(38:38) Attracting top talent(43:38) Misconceptions about Klarna and closing thoughts
• #66: Monika Liikamaa: building one of Europe’s top fintech companies 15.08.2025 1h

  Enfuce is a fast-growing fintech with a bold goal of becoming the #1 issuer processor in Europe and reach billions in ARR. We sat down with co-founder and co-CEO Monika Liikamaa to talk about what it takes to build a successful startup in a conservative industry: earning trust, hiring top talent, and moving fast while doing the right thing. We also talked about entrepreneurship as a mindset, the stress of building a company, and how small teams can do big things.Learn more:https://enfuce.com/https://generogrowth.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikaliikamaa/(0:00) Introduction(0:30) Fintech and the insight behind starting Enfuce(9:10) Earning trust in a conservative industry(14:37) Why Monika became an entrepreneur(30:33) Building a top team and attracting early talent(42:23) Compliance, fraud, and doing things right(49:15) The future of fintech and reaching 250M€ ARR
• #65 From founder to investor: Ilkka Kivimäki on lessons learned and future bets 25.07.2025 54m

  Ilkka Kivimäki built and sold a company to SAP, was the first investor and chairman of Wolt, and now runs a 260M€ seed fund. We sat down to discuss everything from startup investing and growth to quantum computing and food innovation.Learn more:https://maki.vc/https://generogrowth.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilkkak1/(0:00) Introduction(0:31) Building a company during the dot‑com crash and exiting to SAP(6:35) Finland’s startup ecosystem(13:00) Becoming an investor and Wolt’s success(18:00) Starting Maki.vc and investing in 50+ startups(23:20) Quantum computing(30:25) Robotics and autonomy(35:55) Innovations in food and material sciences(43:30) Lessons from startups and investing
• #64: Backing the next generation of Finnish growth companies with Pia Lemmetty from Tesi 08.07.2025 1h 5m

  Pia Lemmetty is an Investment Director at Tesi, Finland’s state-owned investment company. We talk about Finnish startups and scaleups, Finland’s international reputation, and what it takes to attract more talent and capital. We also cover M&A, IPOs and what growth companies can do better when it comes to corporate finance.Learn more:https://tesi.fi/https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/pia-johanna-lemmetty-tarasiuk/(0:00) Introduction(0:35) Pia’s career in investment banking, M&A and venture capital(6:30) What Tesi is and how it operates(13:00) Growth funding and capital availability in Finland(21:45) Finland’s startup ecosystem and international reputation(28:53) Succeeding globally and attracting top talent(37:18) Enabling billion-euro industrial investments(43:18) How growth companies can improve on corporate finance(48:45) M&A as a growth driver(56:50) Should Finland have more IPOs?
• #63: Leading the Nordics’ biggest fitness chain with SATS CEO Sondre Gravir 05.06.2025 47m

  SATS is the largest fitness chain in the Nordics, with over 270 gyms and 10,000 employees. CEO Sondre Gravir joined us to talk about creating a great customer experience and strong culture at scale, how SATS continues to innovate, and what it was like leading the company through the lockdowns. We also covered fitness trends, the role of technology, and the impact of gyms on public health.Learn more:https://satsgroup.com/https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondregravir/(0:00) Introduction(0:30) Why Sondre joined SATS(3:00) Public health, fitness trends and the Nordic gym market(11:08) Growth drivers and the power of group classes(16:52) Technology, opportunities and limits of digital fitness(21:59) Growing the market as a category leader(24:56) Scaling culture and values across 10,000+ employees(33:19) Covid, lessons learned and what’s next
• #62: Inka Mero - backing deep tech startups that are changing the world 22.05.2025 58m

  Voima Ventures is one of the only VC funds in Europe focused only on deep tech. With over 200M€ raised in total, they invest in everything from quantum computing to hormone testing and new biomaterials. Founder and CEO Inka Mero joins us to share how they find and fund world-changing startups, what a great founding team looks like, and how to build a venture fund from scratch.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com https://voimaventures.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/inkamero(0:00) Introduction(0:30) What is deep tech?(10:40) What makes startup teams succeed?(18:30) How investors pick and support startups(29:22) Building a successful venture capital firm(36:13) Ambition, timing, and founder mindset(45:10) Biggest challenges and proudest moments(54:06) Poetry and Inka’s new book
• #61: Carl Haglund on transforming Veritas and why Finland must reform 12.05.2025 59m

  Since joining Veritas, Carl Haglund has led the pension company to record-breaking growth in a highly regulated industry. We talk about how he and his team made it happen, the CEO’s role in sales, and how customer experience became their advantage. With Carl’s background in politics and 5B€ in assets under management, we also discuss investing, geopolitics, and why Finland isn’t growing.Learn more:https://veritas.fi/ https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-haglund-30b2172/(00:00) Introduction(00:30) Why Carl joined Veritas(05:45) Transforming a legacy pension company(15:00) Customer experience as a competitive edge(21:42) Selling as a CEO(25:30) Why isn’t Finland growing?(44:00) Investing, macro, geopolitics, and defense
• #60: Pernilla Ramslöv - lessons from building a 500M SEK consulting business 24.04.2025 54m

  Pernilla Ramslöv is the founder and CEO of NOX, the IT consultancy she built from the ground up into a 500M SEK business. In this episode, we discuss building a strong company culture, how loving leadership and psychological safety drive results, the hidden climate impact of IT, and the threats and opportunities of AI.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com/https://www.noxconsulting.se/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pramslov/ (00:00) Introduction and reflections on 2025(02:32) Building NOX by challenging traditional consultancy models(17:45) Culture, values, and why loving leadership is good for business(35:55) The hidden environmental cost of IT(40:23) AI and opportunities in sustainable tech(46:15) Will AI take our jobs? How to navigate the rapid change
• #59: What it takes to build a successful startup – with Antler GP Jussi Kallasvuo 03.04.2025 1h 2m

  Jussi Kallasvuo is a General Partner at Antler, a global early-stage investor and the world’s most active investor in AI. We talk about what makes a great startup, common founder mistakes, the importance of grit, how AI is fundamentally changing how companies are built, and more.Learn more:https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.antler.co/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussi-kallasvuo-9748953/(0:00) Introduction(0:45) What is Antler and how it’s different from traditional VC(9:52) How Antler finds top talent from 180,000+ applicants(19:07) Common founder mistakes, problem-first thinking, and business models(36:30) Building startups in Finland vs Sweden and Estonia(45:57) How AI has changed company building
• #58: Building Europe's top leadership event with Nordic Business Forum co-founder Hans-Peter Siefen 30.01.2025 55m

  Nordic Business Forum started with evening seminars in Jyväskylä and grew into one of Europe’s leading leadership and business events. We sat down with CEO & Co-founder Hans-Peter Siefen to talk about navigating the pandemic, building an unforgettable customer experience, and what it takes to run a world-class event. Learn more: https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.nbforum.com/ (0:00) Introduction (1:35) The early days of NBF (10:15) Getting Al Gore as a speaker (15:20) Scaling NBF into Europe's top leadership event (20:00) Sales, rejection, and the mindset for success (28:10) Creating an unforgettable customer experience (31:20) Surviving the lockdown (37:45) Virtual, hybrid and in-person events (47:50) Why leadership is difficult and lessons from great leaders
• #57: Risto Siilasmaa – lessons from dot-com bubble, transforming Nokia, and investing in unicorns 19.12.2024 1h 19m

  Risto Siilasmaa co-founded F-Secure in 1988 at just 22, and later became Finland’s richest person during the dot-com bubble. As chairman of Nokia, he led the transformation of the company from a struggling handset maker to a global leader in network infrastructure. He has one of the best startup investment track records, with multiple unicorns in this portfolio. In this episode, Risto shares 30+ years of insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and tech. Learn more: https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/siilasmaa/ (0:00) Introduction (0:55) Starting F-Secure: early challenges and IPO (8:50) The dot-com bubble and how money changes people (24:50) Tough decisions and building resilience (34:20) Nokia: crisis, disruption, and transformation (58:53) Investing in unicorns and how to spot great founders (1:12:35) Future tech trends: AI, quantum computing and clean energy
• #56: Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae - what successful CEOs and leadership teams do 28.11.2024 1h 9m

  Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae is one of the most respected and sought-after business leaders in the Nordics. She currently chairs the boards of companies like Finnair, BoConcept, and Posti Group. We discuss the six essentials and superpowers that drive leadership success. Learn more: https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sannasuvantoharsaae (0:00) Introduction (1:30) How to lead yourself (12:00) Why results matter and how to achieve them (26:40) How to keep learning and avoid stagnation (35:29) Future orientation: stop fault-finding, start forward-thinking (40:40) The most important thing (50:25) Why fun and trust make teams perform better (58:19) Europe’s challenges and lessons from Denmark